Month: March 2016

Previously, I had never even heard of the term ‘poverty porn’. After punching it into Google, the never ending list of explanations was incredible.

“Poverty porn is dangerous”

“What is wrong with poverty porn?”

“5 reasons why poverty porn empowers the wrong person”

I even stumbled upon the Wikipedia definition:

“Poverty porn, also known as development porn or famine porn, has been defined as “any type of media, be it written, photographed or filmed, which exploits the poor’s condition in order to generate the necessary sympathy for selling newspapers or increasing charitable donations”

After some serious article and YouTube browsing, it became clear to me that this so-called “poverty porn” is all around western media culture.

We really do get off on it as much as pornography addicts get off on well, pornography.

There is so much saturation in the media of famished children’s faces, sad African people crying out for help and documentaries on trailer park people. The BBC in The UK has even created a reality show that recreates the living conditions of Victorian Britain. The main objective is to observe their struggle living and working in extremely tough conditions followed by reminding ourselves of how lucky we are after switching off the television.
Us as a western audience are being asked to feel pity for what is put before us. If we don’t feel pity, what does that make us?

Horrible, snobby and selfish.

Sometimes we are even being asked to open our wallets. Sure, we may shed a tear for the Syrian refugees begging for food as they flee their homes, and we may even donate a few spare pieces of golden shrapnel to feed a few starving children. But what does this exactly achieve?

So, you think that you are changing the world, hm?

But first, let me show you another definition:

If you don’t also agree that shedding a tear to a pair of begging eyes on your plasma tv is not shirking responsibility, I don’t know what is.

Collectively, we are feeding an industry of misconstrued images all for the gain for wealthy individuals, just so we can reassure ourselves that we are not just rich snobs. I strongly believe that poverty porn is creating a massive western “cop out culture”.

This really isn’t our fault, because the everyday westerner cannot control the media’s portrayal of suffering. We sure do influence the media’s portrayal (because those slimy suckers know that we have a soft spot for dying, sick children), but nowadays it is almost impossible to escape these haunting images and stories of suffering.

“Images of buzzing flies, begging eyes, and bloated bellies flood television screens and print media in an attempt to pull at heartstrings and garner donations.”(Nathanson, 2013)

However, not all hope is lost because society has attempted to strike back at the culture of “othering” Africa through poverty porn. Their aim is to enlighten the world about how Africa too can be portrayed in a positive light and doesn’t only exist as a western source of pity. They are pretty much saying that *shock* *horror*, there is another side to the story!
Under the Twitter hashtag #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou, contemporary African individuals are attempting to end the media’s constant theme of African suffering.

So.

Let’s just take the time to take a deep breath and admit that we get off on ourselves feeling bad for the sufferers out there. I really don’t think this is a bad thing at all, but then again, is there even much point? The least we could all do is recognise this and study the definition of a “cop out”. Then you can decide for yourself if you would like to to give the homeless man on the corner 5 dollars.

When you first layed eyes on the iPhone, what were the first thoughts to pop into your head? Perhaps adjectives such as “innovative”, “modern” and “trendy” would come to mind. However, I’m left wondering if the word “status symbol” would also come about. That’s because, in certain Australian societal contexts, that is exactly what it is.

Since the first iPhone exploded onto the scene in 2007, it had a little bit of a slow start. Everyone was still trying to grasp the concept of the smartphone. It essentially indicated the beginning of the smartphone era. In 2011, the iPhone was leading the Australian smartphone charge, with everyone wanting one for themselves.

The iPhone is undeniably one of the most popular brands in the smartphone market. I can assure you that you would see it 8/10 if you scanned a train carriage full of teenagers, university students and business people. Smith (2015) explains how Australia’s appreciation for the Iphone is much more pronounced than other countries. They are everywhere. Yes, the very large fan following of the iPhone is highly obvious, but have we managed to recognise the social status symbol that it has very cleverly constructed? It is a tough question to ask.

Currently I am an Android user, but I must admit that I was one of the million that held my iPhone ever so tightly to my chest as I slept. No, it was not because it had a flashy camera or a sleek design, because there are tons of smartphones in the market that have the same, if not better features. I was lured in because I saw it as my one-way ticket to high-status stardom. I confidently plonked it down onto cafe tables and on my work desk. I made sure it spent more time in my palm in public than hidden in my back pocket. I wanted the Australian public to know that I was one of them and that I was worthy of their attention. That “oh so hip” and “oh so now” piece of metal in my greedy palm was my metaphorical megaphone that aimed to grab the attention of every member of the Australian public that walked past me.

With that being said, the iPhone does play different social status roles in different societal groups. As a university student, I have picked up on the tendency to have your iPhone out on display even when it’s not in use.

Why is that, do you think?

Essentially, university students worship their iPhone as a reflection of their sophistication, completion, wealth status and fashion sense . Some universities have even created links to their website with specific Apple product-related help due to the overwhelming prevalence of the device.

Especially in the adolescent world, the iPhone can be seen (amongst other factors) as the crucial element of group inclusion or separation. It is either you’re in or you’re out. If you have a group of ten sixteen-year-olds, the majority will have an iPhone either visibly hanging out their jean pockets or firmly clutched in their palm as they strut down the street.

Matyszczyk (2014) backs up my claim by explaining how even the model of an adolescent’s iPhone is an important reflection of social status:

“Will they buy the iPhone 6 when it comes out, or be stuck with the slower iPhone 5? Or, even worse, still have an iPhone 4?”

The question as to where this social trend will lead Australian society still begs as there are already 6 generations of iPhones with the popularity barely moving. It will be interesting to see in the years to come if the iPhone will slowly shift from a symbol of sophisticated socio-economic status towards a symbol of high technological and/or professional status. Or perhaps a competitor will knock Apple off its top spot?

Regardless of what the outcome is, the Apple brand should be patting themselves on the back for a job well done.